ITF PRESIDENT CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
The year 2019 is coming to an end and it has been indeed a very eventful and successful year. The highlight of the competition was certainly the World Championships in Inzell (Germany) with a new participation record of competitors (1234).
The elections were eagerly awaited for the new ITF board, which took place on April 28, 2019, and for which, for the first time in the history of the ITF, at least two candidates stood for the respective positions. Noteworthy is certainly the fact that for the first time two women were available for election – and were also elected! All election results were very clear for the winner and the congress awarded the confidence to six new and five active members.
In the following weeks (after the first official board meeting in Frankfurt in September) many new things were started. For example, all existing committees had to be re-elected, new committees and teams were created (most of the committees now involve women), all sponsorship contracts and seminar regulations had to be revised, and new projects were started. For example, the Adapted Taekwon-Do program, which addresses people with physical disabilities, and the Korea Project, which is set to reach its first peak next April. In addition, information was also translated into the Russian language.
From June to November 2019, meetings with 51 country representatives from 41 countries from 5 continents were organized and carried out, which brought important lessons, both positive and negative.
Although the past eight months have been extremely labour-intensive, many things have turned out to be obstacles and we are undergoing a transformation process, we are well on the way with the projects we have started, which we will continue with great energy and enthusiasm.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported the work of the Board and build on further good cooperation with the old and new committees and their members.
I wish you all and your families a peaceful and restful Christmas and a healthy and successful New Year.
With kind regards
Paul Weiler ITF President
